Kara serves as the Prayer Ministry Leader at Petra.
Guidelines and Policies
Weddings are special occasions. They mark the beginning of a life-long partnership between a man and a woman under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. If you choose to be married at Petra, we aim to do everything possible to ensure that your wedding goes smoothly and is a source of joy to everyone. Following are some guidelines and policies for holding your wedding at Petra:
General Wedding Guidelines
1. Any committed Christians who consider Petra their church home may get married at Petra.
2. The church will provide a pastor to officiate at the service. The couple may ask any of the pastors at Petra to perform their wedding. (Please be aware that Pastor Lester will be performing fewer weddings than he did in the past.) If the couple does not request a preference for an officiating pastor, one will be chosen for them. A non-Petra pastor may officiate at the service if requested and it is approved by Pastor Titus Kauffman.
3. Engaged couples who get married at Petra are required to go through premarital counseling with an assigned Petra couple who has been specially trained for this purpose. These couples have a special desire to help young couples enter into a strong marriage. The couples will meet together for approximately eight sessions prior to the wedding and will continue their relationship after the wedding. Pastor Titus Kauffman will pair each engaged couple with a counseling couple.
4. We require that every couple getting married at Petra use a Petra wedding coordinator. If there is an offsite wedding or only the reception is at Petra, a Petra wedding coordinator is available but is not required. The coordinator is a qualified member of the congregation who knows the facility, the policies, and the people. You may request any of the Petra coordinators or you may enlist your own wedding coordinator, but that coordinator will have to defer to the Petra coordinator when it comes to facility use and policy. (Coordinator packages are listed on the “Planning Your Wedding” page.)
5. The use of the facility will include: Sanctuary, two dressing rooms, and use of the Multi-Purpose Room and/or Café with kitchen for a reception. The couple is responsible to set up for the wedding and to return all Petra furniture and decorative items to their original locations after the wedding. The couple is also responsible to assign someone to tidy up and gather up belongings after the service and/or reception.
Wedding Application Guidelines
1. Call the church receptionist to inquire about the availability of the church for the date or dates you desire. She will enter a tentative date for the wedding on the church calendar, schedule your initial appointment with Pastor Titus Kauffman, and send you a packet of materials which will need to be completed for your appointment with Pastor Titus Kauffman.
2. The Wedding Packet you will receive in the mail will include the following materials:
• Wedding Overview
• Ceremony Planner
• Ceremony/Reception Information
• Ceremony Outline
• Premarital Counseling Questionnaire/Interview*
• Reservation Form for the Use of the Church Facility*
• Wedding Coordination Form*
• “Twelve Reasons” sheet*
*Please fill these out and bring them to the initial premarital visit with Pastor Titus Kauffman.
Note: The Reservation Form can be given to the church office during your appointment with Pastor Titus.
3. At the conclusion of your first appointment with Pastor Titus, and with his consent, the wedding date will be confirmed on the church calendar. Pastor Titus will confirm the officiating pastor at this time.
4. A copy of the Reservation Form for the Use of the Church Facility will be given to Petra’s wedding coordinator. She will then call you to discuss your wedding and review your facility needs.
5. A copy of the Premarital Counseling Questionnaire/Interview will be given to the pastor or pastors who will be officiating at your wedding.
6. You will be matched with your premarital counseling couple and you should contact them to set up your first appointment.
7. You will meet with the officiating pastor and the wedding coordinator approximately four weeks before your wedding. Please call the pastor to set up the meeting date. Plan to bring along a completed ceremony/reception info sheet and ceremony outline.
Facilities Use Guidelines for Your Wedding
1. Every effort must be made to hold to the times stated on the Facility Reservation Form. Wedding set-up and rehearsal is normally the day before the wedding. The times need to be approved by the church office.
2. Only approved Petra Technical staff are authorized to operate the audio, video, and lighting systems in the Sanctuary. Sound systems in the Café and Multi-Purpose Room may be run by volunteers. Equipment on the Sanctuary stage may not be moved without the permission of approved Petra staff.
3. Chairs in the Sanctuary should not be moved without permission. It is acceptable to remove a row of chairs on each side of the aisle and the first row up front if needed.
a) The chair cart must be used to avoid damaging the carpet.
b) The chairs can be stored in the lobby area of entrance F.
c) We ask that the family provide the manpower to also set them back up.
4. Any candles used must be the drip-less variety.
5. Only special carpet tape provided by the church is to be used to tape things to the floor. No duck tape.
6. The rental party is expected to supervise children at all times. Please, no running or rollerblading inside the facility. Children should not be exploring areas of the church which have not been reserved.
7. Food and drink are not permitted in the Sanctuary Wing except for the Welcome Center and the nurseries.
8. Consumption of alcoholic beverages is not permitted in or on any part of the facility. Smokers may step outside and use the sand urns on the outside porches.
9. Social dancing is not permitted in the church.
10. If Petra items are moved, they must be returned to their original location after the wedding. Items may not be moved from the Sanctuary Wing to the Multi-Purpose Room, the Café, or the Educational Wing.
11. No rice, confetti, or birdseed may be thrown.
12. The pastor will be in charge of the rehearsal. Ask your party to be as prompt as possible. The details of the ceremony should be worked out with the pastor and gone over with him before the rehearsal evening.
13. Music Guidelines – Since this is a Christian wedding, we ask that only Christian or classical music be used in the wedding ceremony. We will allow an exception for one prelude song, the recessional song, and music at the reception. All music and songs must be approved by the pastor performing the ceremony.
14. Garter Guidelines – A tradition at many weddings is the throwing of the bouquet and the garter. We respectfully ask that after the garter is thrown it not be put on the leg of the girl who caught the bouquet. This is not in good Christian taste and is offensive and embarrassing to many. If you have a DJ at the reception, please inform them of this request.
15. We request that the flags not be removed from the balcony.
16. When planning your ceremony please take into consideration the guests you are inviting. If you wish to include a worship set, please consider:
a. Is a full worship band appropriate for the setting?
b. Are the guests familiar with the songs? If not, consider having copies of the songs available.
c. What will the bridal party do during the worship set? It can be difficult for them to follow along because of where they are standing.
d. For each worship song, you will need to extend the ceremony an additional five minutes.
Photography Guidelines
• Pre-ceremony pictures should be finished 45 minutes before the start of the wedding
• No flash photography during the ceremony (flash may be used during the processional)
• No photographers on the stage during the ceremony
• No moving any decorations prior to the wedding ceremony
• Any questions can be directed to Petra’s Wedding Coordinator
• If a picture with the pastor is requested, please take those prior to family/ceremony pictures
God bless you as you give special preparation to your wedding day, and to your marriage!